Clamping means for washing machines



' P ,1938. M. M. JACKSON 2,114,980

CLAMPING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 31, 1936 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMPING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Merlin M. Jackson, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Little Giant Inc., Ltd., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California The present invention relates to improvements in washing machines and has particular reference to a clamping means for washing machines. My invention relates to the type of a washing machine in which the-washing apparatus itself is made as a separate unit to be placed on an ordinary stationary tub or tray such as is provided as a built-in feature of most modern homes.

Washing apparatus of this type consists of a base carrying the motor and the agitator which projects into the tub or tray from above and the base is made to rest on the upper edges of the tub.

My invention relates particularly to means for firmly holding the base thus positioned and for preventing it from moving.

It is further proposed to arrange the holding or clamping means underneath the base so that the latter may be made to directly rest on the walls of the tub and to form a complete closure therefor as far as the base extends.

It is further proposed to use for this purpose an extensible member which engages with or bears against opposite faces of thewalls of the tub and leave the top entirely clear as a support for the base plate.

It is further proposed to arrange the clamping means relative to the base plate in such a manner that it may be shifted to insure the proper position for the base plate on the tub.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a front view of my washing apparatus and clamping means as applied to a tub, the latter being shown in section.

Figure 2 a sectional view as seen from line 22 of Figure 1, certain portions being shown in plan, and

Figure 3 a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In its preferred form my invention comprises a base plate I which supports the motor 2 and the gear housing 3011 the top thereof and has an agitator 4 suspended therefrom, suitable mechanism being provided for transmitting motion from the motor to the agitator. The base plate rests directly on the walls 5 and 6 of the tub or tray 1, and its substantially flat bottom thus serves as a complete closure for the tub through the entire extent of the base plate,

1 which covers approximately the rear half of the tub.

The clamping means for holding the base plate in this position consists of a tube 8 having a smooth bore, a threaded rod 9 having one end projecting into the tube and a nut l0 threaded on the rod and pushing the rod outward when the nut is turned while bearing on the end of the tube. The outer ends of the tube and the rod are provided with pivoted foot pieces II and I2 which are made to bear against opposite walls of the tub. 15

It will be noted that when the nut is firmly tightened up against the end face of the tube and the two foot pieces are made to grippingly engage the walls of the tub and to cling thereto.

The tube is held to the base plate in the following manner: The base plate has a basin l3 projecting downward therefrom and the basin has a pair of downwardly projecting bosses l4 and two parallel webs l5 extending forwardly from the bosses. The webs are formed with seats It in the bottom faces thereof and the tube is adapted to be received in these seats. For holding the tube against movement I provide two lugs ll which form seats l8 in opposing relation to the former seats and are adapted to hold 30 the tube from underneath.

The lugs are secured to the bosses by means of screws I9 which firmly clamp the tube between the opposing seats, but which readily release the tube when partly unscrewed, without allowing the tube to drop.

In operation the base plate is first placed on the tub in the exact position desired, with the screws I9 sufliciently loose to permit of sliding movement of the tube 8 within the lugs. The tube is then pushed to the left to contact the wall 5 of the tub. Now the screws may be tight ned, either from below without lifting the base p ate, or after tilting the latter for more convenient access to the screws.

After the screws have been tightened and the base plate has been re-positioned if necessary, the nut I0 is tightened against the end of the tube until the outer end of the rod reaches the opposite wall. Further tightening will bringboth foot pieces into firm and clamping engagement with the opposite walls of the tub and will thus hold the base plate in the selected position.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a wash tub, a wash- 55 ing apparatus including a base plate resting on the walls of the tub, a tube slidably mounted underneath the base plate and in spaced and parallel relation thereto and a rod having one end slidable in the tube and having means for efiecting relative lengthwise movement between the tube and the, rod whereby opposite ends of the tube and the rod are forced upon opposite walls of the tub for clampingly engaging the same.

2. In a washing machine, a wash tub, a washing apparatus including a base plate resting on the walls of the tub, a tube slidably mounted underneath the base plate and in spaced and parallel relation thereto, and a rod having one end slidable in the tube and having means for effecting relative lengthwise movement between the tube and the rod whereby opposite ends of the tube and the rod are forced upon opposite walls of the tub for clampingly engaging the same, and means for securing the tube relative to the base plate when in adjusted position.

3. In a washing machine, a wash tub, a washing apparatus resting on the edges of the tub and having a clamp suspended therefrom, an extensible member carried by the clamp, and means for extending the member whereby opposite ends thereof are brought into gripping engagement with opposite walls of the tub.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, a washing ap- I toward the bosses.

paratus resting on the tub and including'a base plate having bosses projecting downwardly therefrom, the base plate having parallel webs adjacent the bosses with downwardly presented seats formed in the webs, an extensible element bearing against opposite walls of the tub and extending transversely of the webs, the extensible member being arranged in the seats and means ongaging the bosses for clamping the extensible member upon the seats to anchor the base plate to the extensible member.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, a washing apparatus resting upon the tub and including a base plate having bosses projecting downwardly therefrom, the base plate having parallel webs adjacent the bosses with downwardly presented seats formed in the webs, an extensible element bearing against opposite walls of the tub and extending transversely of the webs, the extensible member being arranged in the seats and means engaging the bosses for clamping the extensible member ',upon the seats to anchor the base plate to said extensible member, the latter means comprising lugs having upwardly presented seats to cooperate with the seats in the webs, and threaded means for drawing the lugs MERLIN M. JACKSON. 

